Characterization of durum wheat resistance against leaf rust under climate change conditions of increasing temperature and [CO].

Durum wheat cultivation in Mediterranean regions is threatened by abiotic factors, mainly related to the effects of climate change, and biotic factors such as the leaf rust disease. This situation requires an in-depth knowledge of how predicted elevated temperatures and [CO] will affect durum wheat-leaf rust interactions. Therefore, we have characterised the response of one susceptible and two resistant durum wheat accessions against leaf rust under different environments in greenhouse assays, simulating the predicted conditions of elevated temperature and [CO] in the far future period of 2070-2099 for the wheat growing region of Cordoba, Spain.

Nanobiosensors and nanoformulations in agriculture: new advances and challenges for sustainable agriculture.

In the current scenario of climate change, global agricultural systems are facing remarkable challenges in order to increase production, while reducing the negative environmental impact. Nano-enabled technologies have the potential to revolutionise farming practices by increasing the efficiency of inputs and minimising losses, as well as contributing to sustainable agriculture. Two promising applications of nanotechnology in agriculture are nanobiosensors and nanoformulations (NFs).

Can nanotechnology improve the application of bioherbicides?

Bioherbicides are composed of microorganisms or natural compounds and are used for weed control; however, they have specific weaknesses and constraints that hinder their development and success under field conditions. Nanotechnology can help to overcome these limitations by providing a good starting point for the design of specific formulations and carriers that minimize the deficiencies of natural compounds and microorganisms, such as low solubility, short shelf life or a loss of viability. In addition, nanoformulations can help to improve the efficacy of bioherbicides by increasing their effectiveness and bioavailability, reducing the amount required for a treatment, and enhancing their ability to target specific weeds while preserving the crop.

Guest Edited Collection: Nanotechnology in agriculture.

Agriculture must overcome several challenges in order to increase—or even maintain—production, while also reducing negative environmental impact. Nanotechnology, fundamentally through the development of smart delivery systems and nanocarriers, can contribute to engineering more efficient and less contaminant agrochemicals. This Collection presents recent related works, covering nanodevices that improve crop protection against pests and diseases, nanoformulations for enhancing plant nutrition, and nanomaterials strengthening the general crop performance.

Reducing Nitrogen Dosage in Plants with Urea-Doped Nanofertilizers.

Nanotechnology is emerging as a very promising tool towards more efficient and sustainable practices in agriculture. In this work, we propose the use of non-toxic calcium phosphate nanoparticles doped with urea (U-ACP) for the fertilization of plants. U-ACP nanoparticles present very similar morphology, structure, and composition than the amorphous precursor of bone mineral, but contain a considerable amount of nitrogen as adsorbed urea (up to ca.

Engineering Biomimetic Calcium Phosphate Nanoparticles: A Green Synthesis of Slow-Release Multinutrient (NPK) Nanofertilizers.

Biomimetic calcium phosphate nanoparticles (CaP) have been actively used in biomedicine, due to their high biodegradability and biocompatibility. However, much less progress has been made regarding their application in precision agriculture, i.e.

Assessment of functional and structural changes of soil fungal and oomycete communities in holm oak declined dehesas through metabarcoding analysis.

Forest decline is nowadays a major challenge for ecosystem sustainability. Dehesas, which consists of savannah-like mediterranean ecosystems, are threatened by the holm oak decline in the south-west of Iberian Peninsula. Phytophthora cinnamomi is considered the main agent of holm oak root rot, but little is known about the relationship between diversity of soilborne microbial community and the decline syndrome of holm oak.

Safe nanotechnologies for increasing the effectiveness of environmentally friendly natural agrochemicals.

Natural compounds and living organisms continue to play a limited role in crop protection, and few of them have reached the market, despite their attractiveness and the efforts made in research. Very often these products have negative characteristics compared to synthetic compounds, e.g.

Physical and Chemical Barriers in Root Tissues Contribute to Quantitative Resistance to f. sp. in Pea.

Fusarium wilt caused by f. sp. () is one of the most destructive diseases of pea worldwide.

The interactive effects of arbuscular mycorrhiza and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria synergistically enhance host plant defences against pathogens.

Belowground interactions between plant roots, mycorrhizal fungi and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) can improve plant health via enhanced nutrient acquisition and priming of the plant immune system. Two wheat cultivars differing in their ability to form mycorrhiza were (co)inoculated with the mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis and the rhizobacterial strain Pseudomonas putida KT2440. The cultivar with high mycorrhizal compatibility supported higher levels of rhizobacterial colonization than the low compatibility cultivar.

Differences in Crenate Broomrape Parasitism Dynamics on Three Legume Crops Using a Thermal Time Model.

Root parasitic weeds are a major limiting production factor in a number of crops, and control is difficult. Genetic resistance and chemical control lead the fight, but without unequivocal success. Models that help to describe and even predict the evolution of parasitism underground are a valuable tool for herbicide applications, and even could help in breeding programs.

Quantum dot and superparamagnetic nanoparticle interaction with pathogenic fungi: internalization and toxicity profile.

For several years now, nanoscaled materials have been implemented in biotechnological applications related to animal (in particular human) cells and related pathologies. However, the use of nanomaterials in plant biology is far less widespread, although their application in this field could lead to the future development of plant biotechnology applications. For any practical use, it is crucial to elucidate the relationship between the nanomaterials and the target cells.

A method to quantify infection and colonization of holm oak (Quercus ilex) roots by Phytophthora cinnamomi.

Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands. is an important root rot pathogen widely distributed in the north hemisphere, with a large host range. Among others diseases, it is known to be a principal factor in the decline of holm oak and cork oak, the most important tree species in the "dehesa" ecosystem of south-western Spain.

Synthesis, application, and tracking of magnetic carbon-coated nanoparticles in plants.

The behavior of nanoparticles inside plants is gaining importance for its implications in research about putative applications and toxicology. Magnetic carbon-coated nanoparticles can be easily traced through plant tissues using simple and affordable histological techniques. Here we present a methodology for the synthesis of such nanoparticles.

Effect of amphotericin B nanodisks on plant fungal diseases.

Background: The development of water-soluble nanodevices extends the potential use of compounds developed for other purposes (e.g. antifungal drugs or antibiotics) for applications in agriculture.

Absorption and translocation to the aerial part of magnetic carbon-coated nanoparticles through the root of different crop plants.

The development of nanodevices for agriculture and plant research will allow several new applications, ranging from treatments with agrochemicals to delivery of nucleic acids for genetic transformation. But a long way for research is still in front of us until such nanodevices could be widely used. Their behaviour inside the plants is not yet well known and the putative toxic effects for both, the plants directly exposed and/or the animals and humans, if the nanodevices reach the food chain, remain uncertain.

New chemical clues for broomrape-sunflower host-parasite interactions: synthesis of guaianestrigolactones.

A comparative structure-activity relationship (SAR) study has been conducted with several guaianolide sesquiterpene lactones (SLs) as inducers of the germination of sunflower broomrape (Orobanche cumana) seeds. Compounds were selected and synthesized to study the influence of the lactone-enol-gamma-lactone moiety on the selectivity of SLs toward the stimulation of sunflower broomrape germination. The results clearly illustrate that SLs are recognized only by O.

Nanoparticle penetration and transport in living pumpkin plants: in situ subcellular identification.

Background: In recent years, the application of nanotechnology in several fields of bioscience and biomedicine has been studied. The use of nanoparticles for the targeted delivery of substances has been given special attention and is of particular interest in the treatment of plant diseases. In this work both the penetration and the movement of iron-carbon nanoparticles in plant cells have been analyzed in living plants of Cucurbita pepo.

Nanotechnology for parasitic plant control.

The field of nanotechnology opens up novel potential applications for agriculture. Nanotechnology applications are already being explored and used in medicine and pharmacology, but interest for use in crop protection is just starting. The development of nanodevices as smart delivery systems to target specific sites and nanocarriers for controlled chemical release is discussed.

Breeding approaches for crenate broomrape (Orobanche crenata Forsk.) management in pea (Pisum sativum L.).

Background: Pea cultivation is strongly hampered in Mediterranean and Middle East farming systems by the occurrence of Orobanche crenata Forsk. Strategies of control have been developed, but only marginal successes have been achieved. Most control methods are either unfeasible, uneconomical, hard to achieve or result in incomplete protection.

Medicago truncatula as a model for nonhost resistance in legume-parasitic plant interactions.

Crenate broomrape (Orobanche crenata) is a root parasitic weed that represents a major constraint for grain legume production in Mediterranean and West Asian countries. Medicago truncatula has emerged as an important model plant species for structural and functional genomics. The close phylogenic relationship of M.

Pre-haustorial resistance to broomrape (Orobanche cumana) in sunflower (Helianthus annuus): cytochemical studies.

Sunflower broomrape (Orobanche cumana Wallr.) is a root holoparasitic angiosperm considered as one of the major constraints for sunflower production in Mediterranean areas. Breeding for resistance is regarded as the most effective, feasible, and environmentally friendly solution to control this parasite.

Protein cross-linking, peroxidase and beta-1,3-endoglucanase involved in resistance of pea against Orobanche crenata.

Root holoparasitic angiosperms, like Orobanche spp, completely lack chlorophyll and totally depend on their host for their supply of nutrients. O. crenata is a severe constraint to the cultivation of legumes and breeding for resistance remains the most economical, feasible, and environmentally friendly method of control.

Mucilage production during the incompatible interaction between Orobanche crenata and Vicia sativa.

Orobanche spp. (broomrapes) are holoparasites lacking in chlorophyll and totally dependent on their host for their supply of nutrients. O.